KJ's Beadacious Beads

Making Progress, or Not

2012-02-26T16:11:00.000-05:00

I have a list of notes for blog post ideas, one of which is the value of scissors. If you have been following along, you know that I tried various designs before I settled on the red coral clover chain that I showed last week. This week I started on the turquoise chain. This did not require nearly so much testing, and what testing I did I did not photograph. However, I was not paying attention and ended up with errors:

The error of my ways

I misconnected (yes, I know that is not a word) one connector and skipped another. I have an excuse, I have a cold and my brain isn't functioning. So, instead of scissors I tore out the last three links.

I ended up with this:


Turquoise chain

I am happy with this, mostly. It is not as elegant as my inspiration from the Elizabeth I Cuff Bracelet by the Peregrine Beader. I am okay with that, because this is not an elegant necklace.

This turquoise chain will be paired with the red coral clover chain I showed off last week:

Red coral clover chain and turquoise chain side by side

In turn, these will be paired with my inspiration, a slab of turquoise:

Turquoise and two chains

The design is beginning to take shape:

Turquoise Slab Necklace layout

This week we will have a February 29th enjoy your leap day.

Clover Chain

2012-02-19T17:09:00.000-05:00

It takes about 8 to 10 minutes to make each clover. I have 13 clovers.


Clover Chain

I am happy with the way this turned out. The thread is only visible under a magnifier.


Clover Chain up close

It lies nicely.

(Thank goodness for grammar check. My Mom has tried to teach me the rule for lay, lie, laid but it just does not stick.)

It did take quite a few hours to string the chain together. In order to minimize the thread and have the bead butt up against the coral bead I needed to employ a two needle technique. One needle just did not work.

Most of the Coral and Clover chain

Next I need to work on chain two for the turquoise slab necklace.

Need Motivation?

2012-02-18T11:42:00.002-05:00

Then you should read this post by Sara Rosso titled: Stop Sabotaging Your Own Success: A Manifesto. It is a long post, with no pretty pictures of jewelry or beads, however, it is a great motivational post. It is about trying, it is about failure if you don't try and sometimes if you do. It is probably what you need to hear often. It is about taking a risk.

More Sample Pieces

2012-02-12T15:14:00.004-05:00

Have I ever mentioned that I am a slow beader?

Have I ever mentioned that I only bead on Sundays?

During the week between working and commuting I have about 1 spare hour at the end of the day which I spend reading instead of making jewelry.

On Saturdays I shop. I begin with a run to the West Side Market (think spectacular inside farmer's market) the grocery store (they do not sell chips or Lean Cuisine at the West Side Market) Target, where paper products are cheap, Einstein Bagels- for my daily breakfast fix. I do laundry. I clean. I cook dinner for the rest of the week. I clean again. Sometimes I can even squeeze in a short nap in the afternoon.

Sundays I read, bead, and write a blog post. Thus, my progress is slow, but it continues.

Today I stitched test pieces for one of the chains for my turquoise slab necklace.

My first test piece used silver beads to join the woven piece.

Chain joined with silver Delicas

My second test piece used this great shaped and carved coral bead.

Test chain, made with size 10 and 11 Delicas and a size 8 Czech seed beads, with carved coral bead.

Here they are side by side.


Test chains for slab necklace side by side.

I am going to go with the coral bead between the woven pieces.

This test piece is the right lay-out but is not what I want in my finished necklace. I was not successful at was making this one long chain. I tried a several methods of weaving the pieces together with a single thread and did not like the results. There is too much thread showing on the silver beads butting against the coral bead and they do not lie correctly. I am going to have to weave each individual clover piece and then join the pieces together. I am hoping the top and bottom beads are stabilized by being a part of an individual piece with a knot in each. I am not happy that the finished piece is going to have that many knots- or to my mind that many points of potential failure.

Yesterday was not spent shopping, cleaning, and cooking. Yesterday I went to the Intergalactic Bead Show and picked up some new 8 mm turquoise rounds for the necklace.

8 mm turquoise rounds and slab turquoise

The turquoise slabs are somewhere in between blue and green turquoise. I think the beads I picked up yesterday are a good color match.

One more picture of the turquoise rounds; it is a bit off center but for some reason I liked this picture. I think it is because I really like the detail on the piece of slab turquoise.

Slab turquoise again and 8 mm round turquoise beads

Hmm... I wonder how many of those little clovers I am going to need for this necklace?

I Had This Vision

2012-02-05T15:58:00.000-05:00

I am absolutely sure you have run into the issue where your vision of what the finished piece should be doesn’t quite work with what you have. I run into this issue regularly with regard with three pieces of design:
1) color, I never have quite the match that I want,
2) size, the beads I have are never quite the exact size I need, and
3) structure, my engineering never quite matches what I envisioned.

For my turquoise slab project I envisioned a traditional southwest color scheme: turquoise, silver, and coral.

The turquoise rounds I own are mostly a bit too blue. I am going to a bead show next weekend and I will look for a greener shade of turquoise rounds.

I also just ordered a batch of silver delica beads from Joan Painter. If you need delica beads in 10’s, 11’s, and 15’s and like buying from small business owners I recommend Joan. Her website is not the latest and greatest. You need to read the fine print to know that you get 20% off of the listed price. Be sure to allow for a few days for her to get your order together.

My vision: the slab will sit on one side of the necklace, with three ropes of differing seed bead designs. These ropes will be reduced, probably by triangle shaped cubic right angle weave on the other side, to a single thick seed bead rope to go around the back of the neck, clasp, and then connect to the top of the slab of turquoise.

To that end, I have been making test pieces to join together for one of the three ropes. I have picked two designs out of the six test pieces that I like.


The six test seed bead pieces to compose one of the ropes. For more photos see my flickr photo stream

One of the other ropes was going to incorporate these beautiful sterling domed beads. However, this is where structure is playing havoc with my vision. The sterling domed beads are a bit to large to allow the other two strands to lay properly; or they will be if I make up one of those strands using the test pieces I worked up above.

All the bits and pieces. Click on picture for larger view.

*SIGH* I love my vision with the three varied seed bead ropes. I also love my vision with the domed sterling beads which I bought specifically for the slab turquoise.

I think I will need a second necklace with a different structure. It is all because I had this vision… you know how it is.

Now off to make tomato sauce.

Snow Day

2012-01-29T16:36:00.001-05:00

It is snowing and overcast. No pictures today.

I have been busy beading. I am putting together test pieces for part of one of the strands on my turquoise slab necklace. I have already put together four test pieces including one based on Gwen Fisher's Hexagon Angle Weave. All of the test pieces are silver and red.

I have been thinking about the slab also and trying to decide if I should leave the bezel unembellished. I want the turquoise to be the star.

More next week.

Test Results

2012-01-22T13:36:00.000-05:00

I think I mentioned it that this blog is a way to keep meproductive. If it hadn’t been for lastweek’s blog post I would probably be under a quilt reading a book.

The blog title last week showed the first of two 8mm beadedbeads made of 15/0 beads. They turnedout well, no need to dwell on the blemishes only I can see.

I had a plan: Add Lucite flowers, dangling beads, anembellishment or two and turn my test into a pair of earrings. I tried two different constructions.

Which do you like best?

Of course I liked the one that was different than I hadplanned. Here are a few more views ofthe pair:

Testing...

2012-01-15T15:06:00.001-05:00

The turquoise slab has not been forgotten neither have the 3 strands that will be attached to it.

I had planned one test for today and yesterday had a completely different inspiration. Does this kind of thing happen to you? Indulge me for a moment while I wander a bit off topic. If you have been following along you know I am in the midst of organizing my beads. I need some of those bigger (and bigger is relative) jars. The craft store did not have the bigger jars when I was shopping yesterday and I almost walked out empty handed. I did, however recall that Mandy, at Beads for Brains, had asked for feedback on beaded bead instructions found at GyönGYIKék. I grabbed a bag of cheap plastic 8 mm pearls and that is where I got side tracked. I think a strand of silver beaded beads might be just what I need for one of those strands. Today made two test beads.

Test Beaded Bead. Ignore the magenta place holder wire.

Another view of the Test Beaded Bead

I made two because I have plans for my test pieces. The 15° silver Japanese seed beads that I used may not be a permanent finish. Before beginning I want to be sure that I am working with the best materials. Thus, I need to order some 15° silver delicas.

Thanks for indulging me. Stay tuned as I work on the slab necklace and watch for what happens to my test pieces.

Torment

2012-01-08T15:26:00.000-05:00

I don’t know about you, but I torment myself every time I need to choose a color palette. I pick a main color with a secondary color in mind, but something about the secondary color does not work, e.g. no beads, wrong size, wrong finish, or just a bad match. In this case I expected to use turquoise beads with my slab turquoise but all of my turquoise beads are too blue. I intended to use red coral in this piece too, so I looked at my red beads, here I mostly ran into too pink and the wrong finish- I want a matte opaque for the colored beads. Which brought me around to the choice I should have made in the first place, silver. Of course I now have to choose between three shades of “silver:” bright silver, steel, and smokey opaque grey. I think the steel is going to be my main silver.

In addition, I chose some blues and greens for accents. I also picked out all of my red coral (and one red glass) for larger accents.

This is why I have a whole set of bookmarks titled color.

Classic South Western color palette

I also went through a large stack of clippings for inspiration for the composition of the multi-strand part of the necklace.

A second view of the classic South Western color palette

Turquoise

2012-01-02T14:36:00.000-05:00

More than a year ago I attended the Intergalactic Bead Show and made a thoughtful, but nonetheless impulse, purchase of five pieces stunning slab turquoise. Okay I was in love. Each slab measures about 1.18 (30 mm) wide by 1.5 inches (40 mm) long by .25 inches (6 mm) thick.


Strand of turquoise slabs

I have had a necklace design in mind since the purchase. This necklace is going to be for me. Thus, the cost of contents and time is irrelevant. I will, however, keep track just in case I have the opportunity to sell it.


Close up of slab turquoise- click for larger view

Another close up of slab turquoise

A few weeks ago on A Beader’s Blog the writer posted an old draft about why she blogs and why blog readers do and do not read blogs. I posted a rather lengthy reply. I started this blog to drive me to get my Etsy shop up and running and to start doing more shows. In my reply, however, I admitted that I am really blogging to drive myself to produce. Everything else follows from production. I am really good at being accountable to myself; even so, broadcasting my goals is an added prod. Keep an eye on this space for continuing developments in 2012.

Have a Safe & Merry Holiday

2011-12-24T08:38:00.000-05:00


Christmas lights in the city

Every morning I have been greeted in the subway by a man playing Christmas tunes on a trumpet in order to raise funds for Salvation Army and when I emerge onto the streets I see these twinkling lights. I hope you have holiday filled with joy and peace.

A second view of city lights

The Next Button

2011-12-18T11:12:00.000-05:00

Do you follow blogs via an RSS reader? It is a great aggregator but it is not always the best way to view posts. You miss the side lists: on this blog my flickr stream, on other blogs links to the most recent posts of blogs the writer is following, contact information, other links of interest such as etsy, and direct access to comments. Of course, you also miss the ads, which I am really good at tuning out.

Instead of reading posts in my RSS feed, I make use of the Next button my tool bar.

When I click on the Next button my browser takes me to the next unread post on the blogger's web page. Not only am I able to see all the additional goodies I also have easy access to comments. Even better, my visit is counted in the blogger's statistics.

To set up a next button from your Google Reader, choose the options gear in the upper right hand corner of your Google Reader and Select Reader Settings.

Once on the Options page, choose the Goodies Tab.

In this tab you will find the Next Button that you can drag to the tool bar on your browser.

This is a great way to view your favorite blogs.

Have a wonderful holiday.

Bead Storage

2011-12-11T20:27:00.001-05:00

I have a lot of beads, and a lot of those are seed beads- Delicas, Charlottes, Czech and Japanese.

My previous storage method- spice racks just wasn’t working anymore. The spice racks were great for hanks of Czech beads. They are, however, heavy and large when you have 150+ jars.

A spice rack full of Czech seed beads

I will always believe glass containers are the best as they are more transparent than plastic. Plastic baggies were not an answer. I really dislike the plastic tubes many of my beads are sold in so those were ruled out.

I thought I found the answer in 4 dram glass vials. These are a generous size for 10 grams of Delicas. You can get these at bargain prices on e-bay if you wait for an auction. The glass vials did not work out because the tops came loose when the plastic storage boxes they were stored in were moved. Not every top came loose, it was always just 1 and not the same top every time nor every time I moved the storage box. Nonetheless, it was clear this was not going to work out.

Storage New and Newest

This left two choices: a more expensive glass jar or plastic. Since money is almost always a consideration I chose plastic.

More choices followed. I considered those tic-tac style boxes because you can store them on their side and it makes viewing the colors easy. However, I read that the tops are not always tight and that is why I gave up on the vials. As I sometimes travel with my beads I did not want “stacking” jars. Each container had to have a lid. I opted for Darice Bead Storage Jars labeled as Clear “EZ” View with Screw Top Lids. I bought sets of larger jars measuring 47 mm (2 inch) high for my Czech beads and 21 mm high jars for my Delicas. The 21 mm jar holds about 10 grams of Delicas.

Lots of Czech Beads

More Czech Beads

They are not as nice as my spice jars, but they are smaller and lighter. The lids are not well finished. Nonetheless, I expect the lids to stay on. I am much happier with these than the tubes the beads came in. All of my seed beads will soon be stored in like containers allowing me to assess my options as I begin a project.

Delicas

This is one of the things that has been keeping me busy, moving beads from one jar to another like a mad scientist.

One final note, I create labels for inside each container with Bead Style (e.g. Delica) Color Name, Size, Source, Identifying Number (if applicable) and cost.

Just another photo of the same Czech Beads

How Do You Do It?

2011-12-04T13:41:00.001-05:00

I have no idea of how all of those successful jewelry makers and bloggers manage to do it all.

I have a full time job, no children or significant other to take care of, and I just can't seem to find the time I need to organize which would free up time to create.

Week days are filled with the tasks of daily living and a full time job + commute time.

Weekends are spent taking care of all the things I don't have time for during the week.

One of my weekend tasks is a visit to the delightful West Side Market. The market is a short train ride from my home and I try to visit every Saturday. This indoor market features small vendors selling a plethora of good food. I buy my poultry from vendors who purchase from the local Amish population which makes me feel better about my main source of meat. I buy all of my fresh produce at the same market. When I want bread, other than Einstein Brothers Bagels, I buy from one of the local bakers at the market. What a great resource the market is. This weekend, for $27.00 I got: a small Italian loaf of bread, 4 apples, 5 oranges, 2 types of onions, 3 red peppers, 1 banana pepper, 1 head of garlic, 3 tomatoes, 1 cucumber, 4 links of sausage, ohhh, and from the spice vendor an ounce of fennel seed and an ounce of cayenne pepper for some Christmas baking. I am well blessed to have such a resource, even if it means I have to make an additional trip to a regular super market for canned goods, milk, and some packaged food.

I am still getting organized. For every step forward I take one step backwards. I did a little bit of beading and now there just isn't a clear space to work.

Actually, it only looks bad it would just be a matter of minutes to re-organize the mess to make work room. The problem is I would just be moving the mess from one space to another to be cleaned up later. Here is my bead storage- this includes display, packaging, photo storage as well as beads, findings, and a few other things bead related.

In addition to all of the above, I am trying to find time to scan boxes and boxes of documents so I can get rid of boxes and boxes of paper and cut down significantly on my storage needs. I am also copying a box full of floppy discs to my computer. Somehow I neglected to do that years ago and now I am have to make up for lost time.

So how do you fit in work, commuting, exercise, cooking, laundry, cleaning, shopping, organizing, reading (a big downfall for me) and still find time to create, photograph, and blog?

Buying a Camera

2011-11-21T20:11:00.001-05:00

I spent quite a bit of time researching cameras before I bought one. It was not a fruitful search when my search criterion was “macro.” Although it seems logical that you zoom in to capture a macro shot, macro is not the same as zoom.

Time to cut to the chase I bought a Canon PowerShot SX130 IS.

I restricted my choices by setting a dollar limit of under $200.00 and aimed for under $150.00. I was able to purchase my camera at a local big box store for a bit over that $150.00.

I visited multiple stores over a period of months and asked questions. I even visited a shop specializing in cameras. When I was ready to make my purchase I asked the young man why he was working in the camera department. He replied that he knew a lot about cameras. I followed up by telling him the camera I wanted and why and asked if he would recommend something else. He came up with one option which was pricier and told me that my choice was good.

As I hinted above I read reviews. The review that convinced me was from CNET my favorite resource for impartial reviews of tech toys. The review stated that this camera was slow and the AA batteries ran out quickly. I wasn’t worried about slow but now I am thinking I need to get some rechargeable batteries for my camera. The convincing line in the review was that this camera worked well in low light conditions. All other reviews I read of cameras in my price range said that the cameras did not do well in low light conditions. I don’t know about you but I take pictures of my jewelry inside in natural light, not quite dim light, but not bright either.

I am still at that steep learning curve with my camera, but I am quite satisfied. The three things mentioned again and again that photographers must learn are ISO, aperture priority, and shutter speed. I can set all three and white balance with my camera. I have a macro setting. I have a delay setting. I like that I can switch between fully manual and automatic. I have auto everything, including focus. This was a great choice for me and I would recommend this camera to anyone interested in photographing jewelry.

Additional resources for your reading pleasure:
Baubleicious wrote a post about her choices in photographing her beadwork. She purchased an Olympus' Stylus Tough.

Pearl at The Beading Gem was one of the first posts I read about choosing a camera. She chose a Lumix.

The review for my camera is linked above, but CNET regularly reviews cameras.

Etsy has quite a few resources, but the one I bookmarked was Studio Quality Product Photography With a $12 Set Up

Digital Photography Tips and Tutorials, particularly the article on macro photography.

Life Hacker had a great series- Basics of Photography: The Complete Guide.
Photo Net is another great learning resource. I bookmarked The Missing Pages column which addresses the details left out of your user manual.

Hmm… I think I might just have to add an additional subheading on photography to my list of links.

I am off to enjoy Thanksgiving. Have a great holiday.

New Links

2011-10-30T09:31:00.000-04:00

It has been a busy week and the month of November is going to remain busy.My Aunt, who generously presents my jewelry at her shows, will be having twoevents in November. I will be assisting.

I took my latest creations to work to show what I had been doing andsold two necklaces and gained one repair job. I have to finish the secondnecklace and repair job today. I will try to take pictures.

I have been busy adding links to my RSS feed, which explains in part, why Ihave over 300 un-read blog posts in my reader. The new links are available onthe All My Blog Links page under the subtitle New Links. There are 28 newlinks, all worth a visit.

I added 3 Polish blogs, and probably would have added more had I had thetime to follow links on those blogs. Check out: Bizuteria by Dominikanafor beautiful wirework, Margita-hand embroidered jewelry for stunning and bright soutoche, and Haft koralikowy by Jagienkaa forexquisite bead embroidery.

If you are looking for patterns, don't miss: Gyöngyékszer minták.

I find quite a few links through Lori Anderson's BeadSoup Blog Party which is where I found: Objects andElements a truly awesome site with step by step tutorials. The lasttwo tutorials were for wearable journals. The step by step instructionsmade it look easy to create these metal covered, hinged, journals. Whatmore could you ask for?

I am at heart a bead weaver. If you want complex multipart tutorialsfor big finished pieces, do not miss: Tutoriels perles, Créations Laure.

The link for Bead Perles isa shop, but they have great interviews with European beaders. What agreat resource.

Finally, I posted a link to my friend KarenLandis. I expect some day she will be well known.

Winnings

2011-10-23T11:03:00.000-04:00

Look what I won

A platter filled with beads

This generous 5 pound package is from Judith B Designs. What a treasure trove it is, chips, crystals, lentils, stone, brass, and more. Judy was making room for new purchases and put together this package for a giveaway. This was delivered last week and I intended to blog about it last weekend but this being Cleveland's record breaking year for rain I didn't have enough light to take a decent picture.

Thanks Judy, these will be put to good use.

The Plan

2011-10-10T18:04:00.000-04:00

Do you design jewelry and in the process redesign and redesign again? I do. Which is why I don’t quite have a bracelet to share with you today.

Several months ago I purchased a pattern for a peyote puffy heart from Kreativ Keller. There is no English translation, but Google translate worked quite well and the diagrams were great. The plan for this weekend was to finally get around to trying out the pattern. Now, that plan worked just fine.

Puffy Heart, pattern by Kreativ Keller

Having successfully made the puffy heart, the plan was to make a bracelet using these silver plated tubes as a quick and simple finish:

Silver Plated Tubes for bracelets

The plan also included the use of this carved bone frog as the center of the bracelet:

Plans don’t always work.

Upon reflection the carved bone frog did not fit with the delicacy of the seed bead elements. I am disappointed. I think I have had the bone frog for a few decades. The color was a perfect compliment. The size was just right. However, it just wasn’t going to work and I would not have been satisfied with the finished piece.

New plans were quickly hatched. I rummaged through my box of white beads and found a mother of pearl disk. It was the right size and color. However, when I put it together it was to long for a bracelet. Which means the silver tubes will also be put aside for another day.

The bracelet will now become a necklace, once I make it to a shop and pick up some silver plated chain. Here is the unfinished piece:

Not Your Mother's Pearls

I am really happy with the way this turned out. I am also well pleased with the instructions from Kreative Keller, they were well done, easy to interpret and follow, and the design is quite clever.

Better Notes on Beaded Beads…

2011-10-09T19:01:00.001-04:00

Okay, I should know better than to go from my scribbled notes. I should have remade the darn beaded bead when I was getting ready to post my notes. Corrections and clarifications are in red.

Here are the corrected notes:

The Beginning: Thread 29 size 10 Delicas and tie a knot creating a circle of beads. The tail should be equal on both sides, with needles on both sides.

Size 10 Rows: Peyote 8 total rows of size 10 Delicas; that is 4 rows on one side of that original circle (for future reference this is named the north side) and 3 rows on the other side (this named the south side.)

Size 11 Rows: Peyote 3 rows of size 11 Delicas on the north side and 3 rows of size 11 Delicas on the south side of the beaded bead.

Size 15 Rows: Peyote 1 row of size 15 Delicas on the north side and 1 row of size 15 Delicas on the south side.

Netting Rows: On the north side exit from a size 15 Delica, add 5 size 15 Delicas, skip a size 15 Delica from the final peyote row, and enter the next size 15 Delica from the final peyote row. Rinse and repeat. Assuming my counting is correct you should have 7 scallops. Repeat on the south side.

Note: See my pictures below. On the beaded bead I made today I had to use 5 beads on the south side scallop and 7 beads on the north side scallop.

Final Row: On the north side exit through the middle (3rd) bead of the size 15 netting row, add a bead, and enter the 3rd bead of the next size 15 netting row, rinse and repeat. When the circle is complete pull your thread tight and weave back through your bead work to tie your knot. Repeat on the south side.

Below is a collage of the beaded bead I made today, a heart beaded bead that I will post more about tomorrow when my new bracelet is finished, and the pair of beaded beads showing the difference in the final netted row with 5 beads and 7 beads.

Notes on How to Create Beaded Beads and a Personal Update

2011-10-02T14:38:00.000-04:00

Many months ago Mandy of Beads for Brains and I exchangede-mails bemoaning the fact that a simple round beaded bead made with Delicasnever quite turned out to meet our high expectations. It seems all my efforts showed too muchthread, the underlying bead, or was slightly unbalanced. I finally made a beaded bead that works.

Here is one that doesn’t work- notice the thread and thebead on which it is woven?

Having pointed out why it is unsatisfactory, it is only fair that also tell you that beaders that I showed this bead to thought it was just fine. Macro pictures show every slight flaw. Here is a different view of the same bead:

Here are two other views of the beaded bead that worked:

I told Mandy I would share my notes when I found them duringthe process of unpacking. These arenotes, not a diagram. If you are notfamiliar with peyote this is not going to be much help, if you know peyote thisis what worked for me.

You will need:

a5/8 inch wooden bead. Available at Michaels
Delicasin sizes 10, 11, and 15
Needle,Fireline (or your preferred thread)

The Beginning: Thread 29 size 10 Delicas and tie a knotcreating a circle of beads. The tailshould be equal on both sides, with needles on both sides.

Size 10 Rows: Peyote 8 rows of size 10 Delicas; that is 4rows on one side of that original circle (for future reference this is named the north side) and 4 rows on the other side (this named the south side.)

Size 11 Rows: Peyote 2 rows of size 11 Delicas on the northside and 1 row of size 11 Delicas on the south side of the beaded bead.

Size 15 Rows: Peyote 1 row of size 15 Delicas on the northside and 1 row of size 15 Delicas on the south side.

Netting Rows: On the north side exit from a size 15 Delica,add 5 size 15 Delicas, skip a size 15 Delica from the final peyote row, andenter the next size 15 Delica from the final peyote row. Rinse and repeat. Assuming my counting is correct you shouldhave 7 scallops. Repeat on the southside.

Final Row: On the north side exit through the middle (3^rd)bead of the size 15 netting row, add a bead, and enter the 3^rd beadof the next size 15 netting row, rinse and repeat. When the circle is complete pull your threadtight and weave back through your bead work to tie your knot. Repeat on the south side.

I love this beaded bead, it is simple, it is clean, it iseven, no threads show, and I really like the top and bottom. As the top is netted you may want to try a trick I picked up on other blogs and use nail polish on your wooden bead prior to beading to give it a more finished look. Maybe at some point in the future I will drawsome diagrams. Hopefully these noteswill be enough for you to create your own unembellished and simple beaded bead. If you decide to try out these directions, please let me know what your results were like.

You may recall I recently purchased a camera. The pictures in this post were an exercise inlearning about my new camera. I am stillon that steep learning curve and hope to post about how I chose my camera inthe future. The beaded bead pictures weredone on different settings. Thus, thisblog post served two purposes: a commitment kept and a camera test. The names of the pictures include my notes onthe settings I used.

I moved this summer and had my furniture delivered inJuly. I tell people I have finished unpacking;which strictly defined means I have opened all the boxes and created a largepile of things to be given away. I havescanned all my hardback books into a spreadsheet so I know what I have. I have also washed everything, including atleast 24 curtains. What I haven’t quiteaccomplished yet is getting the decorations out or my bead studio and tableorganized. Also still on my to do listis scanning all my paperbacks and scanning the boxes of paper I have to mycomputer.

To toot my horn about my accomplishments and to show you whatneeds to be completed here are a few more pictures- these were taken on the “easy”setting of my new camera.

The hardback books:

The paperback books:

My bead studio storage more is planned and necessary as these are not even my best beads:

My bead table- scattered with many things that don’t belongand a clean corner where I took my photos this morning.

Now, it is time to go and do some organizing.

Win, Win, Win...

2011-09-30T21:37:00.000-04:00

Want a chance at a great give-away?

Visit e-workshops written by Riki Schumacher's for four fabulous prizes, and I do mean fabulous.

First is a tutorial about how to solder rhinestone chain. Can't you just think of a million ways to use that skill?

Second is a really great destash. That should inspire a second million ideas.

Third is a bee kit. Not quite a third million ideas, but quite a buzz. (Sorry, couldn't help myself.)

Fourth is a video about how to wire rubber cord and make a clasp. Now that would be fabulous with any number of beads, but mostly I am thinking of beaded beads.

I discovered RikiSchuacher's other blog Riki Jewelry when I followed the link from the picture of beads she sent for the Bead Soup Blog Party. I added her to my RSS feed and when I next update my link page I will add her to the ever growing list.

I have to tell you that I do not enter every contest, nor do I add every blog to my RSS feed, but you will be sorry if you miss this opportunity and I don't just mean the contest. Riki's work is dazzling.

Color

2011-09-23T19:54:00.000-04:00

I can't tell you how many hours I spend agonizing over color choices.

Because choosing colors takes a large portion of my design time I have pick up books on color theory, follow decorating blogs and enjoy decorating magazines for more than just the lush decor, hold the Pantone color forecasts in high regard, pay attention when I walk through Target (color is how Target gets me to part with so much cash) and love blogs that feature color palettes.

In my RSS feed I have a subcategory titled: Color. Topping the list is Beverly Ash Gilbert. One of my favorite references is Margie Deeb's The Beader's Guide to Color. Which is why I was delighted when Beverly Ash Gilbert announced that she and Margie Deeb have teamed up and published a color journal. Waste no time in visiting Beverly's blog to download their first journal: Ask the Color Queens

Still Too Much Left To Do

2011-09-11T14:14:00.000-04:00

I have at least three things that I need to blog about ASAP, but you can tell from the title that time remains an issue. First, there there is the new camera a Canon Power Shot SX 130 IS. That blog post will have to come later. Second, is Isle a Beads, a great eclectic bead shop in Cleveland. Again, that blog post will have to come later. Third, is actual beadwork. I have a friend who is going on a cruise in October. She requested a "purple necklace."

Two weeks ago I bought a purple swarovski rivoli for the purple necklace. I bezeled and embellished the rivoli. I knew if my friend didn't like it that I would use it in another piece. I presented the focal to her and it did not suit her- she had a simple single strand necklace in mind. Here is the focal:

This is based on a pattern by Eva Kovács, which can be found here:
http://ewagyongyosvilaga.blogspot.com/2011/08/kolen-medal-minta-kolen-pendant-pattern.html

My apartment is still a shambles, I have opened every box but not everything has been put away. It took me 20 minutes to find my box of purple beads so I can work on a pretty necklace for my friend.

More posts to come.

That is All of My Blog Links...

2011-09-03T18:38:00.000-04:00

There weren't that many more blogs to add to finish the alphabet. Be sure to stop by Wickwire Jewelry- Nancy hasn't updated her blog for some time, but every piece she does causes me to think I should learn wirework. (Her keys are to die for!)

World Artisan Gems is an irregular blog, but it is well worth putting into your RSS feed. Every post features a new artist.

That was the end of the alphabet. Following that is a list of 13 blogs that I have added to my reader since I began publishing my list. Pearl4U has been in my list for quite some time, but was listed as www.pearl4u so it was not listed with the other P's. Riki Jewelry was added today when her partner in the Bead Soup Blog Party posted the beads she had sent; which in turn led to Melissa Manley Studios. All of which is a prime example of how my list got to be so long in the first place. I am looking forward to seeing more of these great artists. Do not miss The Beading Yogini, who I discovered via Lorelei Eurto's shadow box challenge.

In addition to the jewelry links I have two small additional lists: Non-Jewelry Inspiration and The Business of Jewelry. The Non-Jewelry Inspiration is primarily, but not solely, for color inspiration. The Business of Jewelry is a list of blogs offering business advice to artists. Two of those blogs you should recognize from my jewelry links: Olive Bites Home of Uncorked + Polarity and Pretty Things. Book mark these, add them to your RSS feed, do something so you do not miss either of these blogs if you are interested in selling your jewelry. Blacksburg Belle has become a favorite for business advice. Last, but not least, Luann Udell is one of my very favorite artists. Her work is brilliant and her business advice has been spot on, and she is a pleasure to read.

My list will continue to grow and I will add a post when I add new blogs to the list. I know some of these blogs are no longer active, but they are still worth browsing. Let me know of any broken links.

25 More Links!

2011-08-07T11:59:00.000-04:00

I have been neglectful of my blog. I have also been neglectful of my beading- it has been two months since I have made anything!

Today I posted 25 more links on my All My Blog Links Page.

Let me point out just a handful.

Olive Bites Home of Uncorked + Polarity should be a regular stop in your blog browsing. Cat's style is fabulous and very different from my own. Nonetheless, she is inspiring, creative, and a great resource for those of us looking for professional marketing ideas. She is also a generous in her support of other artists.

Next, is Operation Tackle That Bead Stash! What a great concept. This blog regularly presents challenges to use your stash.

On the off chance that you have not discovered Pretty Things be sure to visit Lori Anderson's wonderful blog. Lori is one of those special people who just make the world more comfortable. Lori is the organizer of Bead Soup Blog Party; this event draws several hundred jewelry designers from around the world together to exchange components and post the end result. I love these events. More than that, Lori is unstinting in her support of other artists and is a great resource for inspiration and practical advice.

If you love peyote stitch, do not miss either Perlicoti or Perlicoti-Peyote. Perlicoti is a beautiful French blog featuring finished pieces. Perlicoti-Peyote is a companion blog featuring patterns.

Last on my list is Helmitarha's Stories of the Secret Garden. Helmitarha makes beautiful jewelry. I added Helmitarha to my blog list on the last Bead Soup Blog Party, her reveal was spectacular, the colors luscious.

There are still more blog links to come.

On A Personal Note

2011-08-07T11:58:00.001-04:00

Warning: This blog post is only distantly related to jewelry and beads and features no pretty pictures. In other words, I wouldn't be at all offended if you moved onto the next blog post.

As some of you know, I started a new job in June, in a new city, 9+ hours away from my previous home. At the very end of June I had my belongings shipped from storage. I have been unpacking since!

I took my Mother's advice and set up my bed first. That was not a difficult decision after sleeping on an air mattress for nearly a month.

It only took me a week or two to hand wash and dry 20+ boxes of kitchen wares and organize my kitchen. Cooking and cleaning is just a daily part of my regular routine.

I also unpacked and organized the bathroom in those first two weeks.

Thus, after two weeks, life was liveable. This may partially explain the slowdown.

I am a book lover. In the process of moving, I lost the pegs to put together my bookshelves. The replacement pegs arrived in late July. I shuffled boxes and furniture to set up my bookcases and have been unpacking books since. Now this is one part of unpacking that I truly enjoy. This time it has been a bit of chore. I recently purchased an Android phone and discovered a Book Catalogue application. Oh My Gosh! If you are an organized book lover I cannot recommend this application enough. Using your phone you scan in a bar code, or enter an ISBN number and add your books to a database. You can create shelves, e.g. Beads, to organize your library. You can export your library to your computer. Best of all, when you are out shopping you can check the database on your phone and determine if you already have the book in your library. (Now I need a similar app to catalogue my beads.) This process has slowed down my unpacking.

Currently, my living room is littered with boxes of hardback books:

I have already unpacked quite a few of my hardback books:

In case you didn't catch it, those are just my hardback books; I haven't even touched the paperbacks:

I chose a two bedroom apartment in order to have a bead room. You could not guess that was the purpose of this room:

Eventually, all of my beads and supplies will find a home on these shelves:

One final picture: Below is where my decorations are currently residing. They will eventually be scattered through the apartment. If you look closely you will see that I have two beautiful glass cabinets, these are currently filled with beads. I am going to have to get an extra shelf for my bead room.

There has been a lot going on in my life and I am looking forward to finally settling in and finding the time to create.

A Challenge

2011-07-26T20:22:00.000-04:00

As you know I follow lots of jewelry blogs. What you may not know is I also follow quite a few food blogs. Amongst the food blogs I follow is Ms. Adventures in Italy; which, as the name implies is about Italy as well as food. Today Sara Rosso jumped on the 7 links meme. I haven't been blogging long enough to give a fair response to the links in question. However, I really enjoyed Sara's post and thought I would pass it along to those of you who have been blogging for some time and are inclined to review your past works. Here are the 7 links you are to supply:

Most beautiful post
Most popular post
Most controversial post
Most helpful post
A post whose success surprised you
A post you feel didn't get the attention it deserved
The post that you are most proud of

Take a look at Ms. Adventures in Italy- it is a great blog with wonderful pictures. Should you feel like a bit of adventure yourself, click on Sara’s link to her other blog: When I Have Time Tips, Info and How-To’s to Bridge the Gap between Meek and Geek.

One more thing, the 7 links ends with nominating other bloggers to participate. Since I did not post my links I will not nominate anyone.

Special Link

2011-07-23T15:29:00.000-04:00

NED Beads is having a sale to help cover the cost of care for Nikita, her pomeranian. Visit her site for details.

Even More Links

2011-07-17T12:05:00.000-04:00

Yes, more links. I did mention that I subscribe to quite a few blogs.

28 new links: L-N.

I added a new B: Be and Bead. Don't miss this link; there are quite a few downloadable patterns.

I added a new C: Colour Lovers. This is not a blog, but it is a tool to help you choose colors and patterns.

I have an entire category on my Google RSS feed named Color. I don't know about you, but it takes me forever to pick out colors. Thus, I pick up every color tool I can, and save clippings from home decorating magazines that have color schemes I find appealing.

My Blog Links

2011-07-10T18:31:00.000-04:00

Have you noticed my new page?

It is the start of My Blog List. I subscribe, via RSS feed, to well over 100 jewelry related blogs. Over the years I have shared my list with friends and acquaintances. Each time I share the list I spend hours editing and updating. Since I am currently in the process of unpacking and have no camera I thought this was the perfect opportunity to work on a more permanent way to share my list.

So far I have done A-G. Stayed tuned for the rest of the alphabet.

Help

2011-06-27T06:08:00.000-04:00

I need some advice.

I do not own a camera. I had previously borrowed my Mother's camera to take pictures of my jewelry. Now that I have moved that is no longer an option.

Thus, the need for advice. What kind of camera do you have? What is your experience? What have you heard about other cameras? My budget is more point and shoot and less SLR.

I am generally a painstaking consumer and will read everything before a purchase. However, those reviews and consumer reports do not really address my specific needs. Any advice you can offer will help and it will be much appreciated.

Another Link

2011-06-25T08:27:00.000-04:00

I am still overwhelmed with the move and new job- my furniture is arriving today so lots of unpacking and cleaning ahead.

I promised inspiring links and I just can't help but pass this one along:
http://perlenfieber.blogspot.com/2011/06/samplerkette.html

The link leads to a great sampler necklace featuring beaded beads in multiple shapes.

I won

2011-06-18T07:36:00.000-04:00

Here is what I won:

My Winnings

A wonderful package of silver colored base metal beads arrived in the mail yesterday from Cindy Lavin at www.beading-arts.com. The package included rondells, barrels, and toggles from Cherry Tree Beads from Asheville, NC.

I have purchased beads from Cherry Tree Beads at the Intergalactic Bead Show. If you get an opportunity be sure to visit their booth- they have a great selection.

As for the beads I won- the picture is only part of the story. What you can't tell is the weight of the beads; they feel solid, rich, and substantial. These beads will hold up to daily wear!

Thanks Cindy I will put these to good use.

More Than Enough

2011-06-14T06:30:00.000-04:00

That is, I have more than enough to keep me busy...

Within the last 2 weeks I have moved 544 miles, found a new apartment, and started a new job.

I packed up my car on May 30th with what I thought were enough necessities, pots, pans, plates, enough clothes for a week of work, TV, and beads, lots of beads. The rest of my household is in storage 544 miles away.

You know about plans, they never quite work out. I moved my trunkful of goodies into my new apartment on June 5th and started my new job on June 6th. A week of new work left no time for breaking out those beads, but enough time to load them into the bookcases next to the fireplace in my new apartment. That was progress.

When the weekend rolled around it was time to shop for a chair. I hit 5 consignment stores and 3 thrift stores and just couldn't make up my mind.

Sunday was reserved for grocery shopping, big box store shopping, cooking, laundry, cleaning...

All of which is to say I had more than enough to keep me too busy to play with my beads. Oh, and I forgot to mention that I have over 300 posts in my RSS feed.

I promised inspiring links. Many of you are familiar with the work of Maggie Meister, if you have never seen her work, now is the time to visit, if you haven't visited recently now is the time for inspiration. Here is a link to her gallery: Maggie Meister Gallery

A Link Full of Eye Candy

2011-05-26T19:15:00.001-04:00

I have been remiss in my posting, and it is likely to continue for the next few weeks. I am moving to Cleveland Ohio from South Carolina. I am gathering about me a few essential items: pots, pans, utensils, dishes, coffee grinder, clothes, toothpaste, a couple of good books, my computer, and boxes of beads. The rest of my household will be in storage for a few months.

Most of my beads are packed and stacked. Despite that, I keep finding stray tubes of Delicas and bags of swarovski crystals. How is it they are so fast to migrate from their home?

While my life is in chaos for the next few weeks my posts are going to be scarce and lacking photos.

To keep you dropping by I will try to write something insightful and to keep your aspirations high I will post a few links.

To that end, have you ever seen the work of Marilyn Radzat? Spectacular! Ms. Radzat makes fantasy art through sculpted figures. Put aside an hour or more and page through her gallery for breathtaking dolls. Do not miss a gallery- there are 9 of them.

Her website can be found here: Marilyn Radzat

One last thing before you leave, if you know anything about Cleveland and are willing to share I would love to hear from you.

Really Big Giveaway

2011-05-19T10:51:00.001-04:00

I don't enter every contest because not every contest features items that I use; I understand that if I do not enter it will increase the chances of some other person winning.

I also don't blog about very many contests for pretty much the same reason. Although, the trade-off is that I am also not pointing other people to places they might not find anyway.

Today, I am both entering and blogging. Art Bead Scene has a really big giveaway. There are already over 250 comments from people wanting to win- including 2 from me. I am guessing that many of those comments are from people who have blogged about the giveaway, since I read about it from other blogs that I follow through my RSS feed before I ever saw the contest in my google reader.

This is quite a giveaway. There are beautiful headpins from Havana Beads:

There are yummy wood tile pendants from More Skye Jewels:

I just love those colors.

There are charms from Hint Jewelry (in my RSS feed) and Marsha Neal Studios:

And there are a lot more... enough to remind you of what it felt like to be a kid with a big pile of gifts just waiting to be opened.

So, drop on by this post at Art Bead Scene and drool over all the pretty beady goodness then enter to win.

Horace Goodhue: Indian Bead-Weaving Patterns

2011-05-14T12:16:00.000-04:00

I was just reminded by Mandy at Beads for Brains: 365 of one of my all time favorite books: Horace Goodhue’s Indian Bead-Weaving Patterns: Chain-Weaving Designs and Bead Loom Weaving-An Illustrated "How-To" Guide

Horace Goodhue Book Cover

I purchased my first copy of this book in the late 1970’s at the museum at Cahokia Mounds. Cahokia Mounds are the largest mounds north of Mexico and they were designated a World Heritage Site in 1982. If you are ever near St. Louis take an afternoon and go for a visit.

I have since purchased two more copies of this book, and if need be I will purchase it again. It is not fancy. There are no color photos and in what photos do exist the details are difficult to discern. The diagrams are hand drawn. Mr. Goodhue developed his own acronyms, e.g. TB for turn back. Nonetheless, this will always be my favorite beading book. Apparently I am not alone in my fondness for Mr. Goodhue as the first review in Amazon is by none other than Diane Fitzgerald.

When I picked up this book, I was a beginner. I am absolutely sure that instructions these days are a better vetted for clarity and the diagrams are more informative. Yet, I still recommend it for beaders at all stages. This book includes instructions for Oglala Butterfly, Daisies, Ladders, Peyote, and much more.

One of my favorite patterns is the Apache Leaf pattern. It makes a beautiful short necklace with just a simple embellishment. I am sorry I cannot post a picture my necklace has been misplaced after 30 years!

I am also quite fond of the pointed zigzag which makes a great band for supporting a focal. It is a quick stitch with substantial width that lies nicely on the neck. I used this stitch for the neck strap of the necklace pictured below.

Pointed Zig Zag neck strap from Horace Goodhue's instructions

This book can be picked up directly from the publisher: Bead-Craft or from your favorite used book dealer.

Celtic Knot Loomed Necklace

2011-05-01T12:13:00.002-04:00

Full length Celtic knot loomed necklace

This past week I have exchanged comments with Gwen Fisher on a variety of topics including loomed bead work and Celtic knots. Gwen created a short video showing how she creates Celtic knots. I wish I had seen something like this when I was painstakingly graphing this necklace.

I love this necklace. I love the colors: amber beads with an iris finish, silver hued dark green, and ivory colored beads with a pearl finish. I love the crystals and pearls of the fringe. I revel in the feel of this necklace; it is smooth and silky to the hand and let me tell you that fringe is great fun to play with when you are wearing the necklace

What I don’t like about this necklace is the length. From end to end this necklace is 27 inches. When I designed this necklace I counted the rows of another loomed piece. What I didn’t count on is that my size 11 beads were larger than the beads in the necklace I used to calculate the number of rows I would need.

Despite the length, and my short stature, I wear this necklace on occasion.

For those of you with an interest in extraordinary loomed pieces, please see Erin's blog: Beads Beading Beaded. I guarantee you will be inspired.

Following are more pictures of my loomed necklace. Click on the pictures for a larger view or visit my Flickr stream which can be found on the side of my blog.


Front center knot, showing fringe

You will note on some of these closeups a bit of fuzz where the nymo has frayed a bit with age and wear.

Finished end of knot work pattern.


Another closeup of the finished end of the center knot work pattern.

I used the knot pattern below as a "spacer" between parts of the necklace


Repeating knot work pattern


Middle knot work pattern

The back part of the necklace was a rather more simple braid pattern.


Back or Top of necklace featuring braided knot work.

Finally, below is the back center of the necklace.

Opportunity at Your Local Arts Council

2011-04-23T16:58:00.000-04:00

I went to an art crawl a week ago celebrating local quilters. I saw beautiful detailed quilts, old quilts lovingly handed down, and quilts incorporating photos transferred to fabric made from historic glass negatives.

I found inspiration in the use of color and pattern. I saw a quilt featuring the colors of mustard and a deep dark blue. I have some mustard colored beads that I have already paired with ivory- blue will be next.

Carved Mustard Cinnabar and Glass Beads with Blue Glass and Stone Beads

The local Arts Council (York County Arts Council) had a sidewalk sale in conjunction with the art crawl. The sidewalk sale was just a few short hours in the early evening. Even if you don’t sell anything it is an opportunity to meet people in the community interested in art.

Not being a vendor at this event, I had the opportunity to speak with some of the quilters. It came as no surprise to learn some had a history of creativity that went back many years and touched on more than their preferred art of quilting. It was also no surprise when one quilter mentioned she had been embroidering with beads recently. I suggested Robin Atkins site and her e-book on bead embroidery. Remember that anyone can represent you when your work speaks for itself.

My local arts council has small grants available, offers classes, sponsors performance art, engages in things such as art crawls, but mostly it is just another opportunity to get out in the community and get to know the people who are interested enough in art to get out and participate.

7000 Bracelets of Hope

2011-04-16T07:07:00.000-04:00

Participants in this blog hop have made blue bracelets to be distributed to through the Global Genes Project to people suffering from rare diseases. Why 7000? That is the approximate number of rare diseases. The bracelets are a way of providing hope and support to one of the 250 million families world wide faced with one of these maladies.

My thanks to Lori Anderson for getting me involved in this project.

The. U.S. Orphan Drug Act provides incentives for developing medications for rare diseases. It should be noted, however, that not all drugs developed for rare diseases turn out to have a limited application; statin drugs, for example, were developed for a rare disease. Which substantiates my belief that everything is connected to everything else.

I have been experimenting this past week with beaded beads, and have featured a square beaded bead in my Bracelet of Hope. This bead is a simple peyote stitch wrapped around a square glass bead.

The square beaded bead is flanked by wreath shape beaded beads. These are composed of small Czech faceted crystals and delica beads.

I finished the bracelet with two AB finished glass beads. As per the organizers suggestion I have added an extender which is embellished with more blue glass beads.

Please be sure to drop by the blogs of the other participants by following the links below.

1. Lori Anderson, Pretty Things
2. Jayne Capps, Mama's Got To Doodle
3. Kym Hunter, Creatively Kym
4. Mandy Duffy, Beads for Brains: 365
5. Charlene Sevier, The Bead Dreamer
6. Lisa Boucher, Lisa's Clay Happenings
7. Mary Harding, Mary Harding Jewelry
8. Barbara Lewis, Painting With Fire
9. Amy Severino, Amy's Beads
10. Jennifer Pride, Jewelry by Jennifer Pride

11. Jenny Cameron, Glass Addictions
12. Susan Ferguson, Windrock Studio
13. Mortira vanPelt, Inspirational Beading
14. Brandi Hussey, Brandi Girl
15. Jenny Vidberg, Shyme Design
16. Angela Barribou, Re: Angela Rae
17. Stefanie Teufel, Stefanie's Sammelsurium
18. Sue Hodgkinson, Hello Gorgeous
19. Jean Yates, Snap Out of it Jean, There's Beading To Be Done!
20. Nicki Keller, Nicki's Reef

21. JJ Jacobs, Coming Abstractions
22. Stacey Curry, Star Hitched Wagon
23. Carrie Tahquechi, Carrie T
24. Deci Worland, Gem Trails
25. Debbie Goering, Prairie Emporium
26. Staci Smith, Staci Louise Originals
27. Francy Inman, 8 Second Studio
28. Linda Landig, Linda's Bead Blog and Meanderings
29. Cherin Poovey, Lanyard Lady
30. Deb Price, Green Shoot Jewellery Designs

31. Suzette Bentley, Ellies Bijoux
32. Mallory Hoffman, For the Love of Beads
33. Shirley Moore, Beads and Bread
34. Kate Gardenghi, The Tropical Blonde
35. Marina Dobrynina, Savon Feutre
36. Molly Alexander, Beautifully Broken Me
37. Linda Djokic, Lutka and Co.
38. Cory Celaya, Art With Moxie
39. CJ Baushka, 4 His Glory Creations
40. Tracy Bell, Copper, Glass, and Recycled Trash

41. Sandra Richardson, Sandy's Coloring Box
42. Sandi Volpe, Sandi Volpe Designs
43. Kim Roberts, Bahama Dawn
44. Hilary Frye, FryeStyle
45. Emanda Johnson, Artemisia's Studio
46. Lisa Kavanaugh, Beading Bliss
47. Sue Kennedy, Sue Beads
48. Raquel Amaral, Raquel Amaral
49. Robyn Hawk, Daily Jewel
50. Linda Inhelder, Must-Haves Jewelry

52. Krista French, French Elegant Jewelry
53. Andrea Robinson, Madame Magpie's Shiny Things
54. John Rasmussen, Rasmussen Gems and Jewelry
55. Breana Fry, Vault 31
56. Erin Prais-Hintz, Treasures Found
57. Cyndi Lavin, Beading Arts
58. Dot Lewallen, Speedie Beadie
59. Hope Smitherman, Crafty Hope
60. Heather Pyle, Aquariart

61. Adrienne Campbell, Adrienne Designs
62. Dee Gordon, Runako Designs
63. Judy Glende, Judith B. Designs
64. Susie Hibdon, Vintage Susie & Wings
65. Tania Spivey, Moobie Grace Designs
66. Norma Agron, Norma's Clay
67. Ana Novak, Cat's Pajamas, Dog's Tuxedos
68. Johanna Rhodes, Fire Phoenix Creations
69. Raida Disbrow, Havana Beads
70. Christa Murphy, Adventures of One Beady Woman

71. Holly Westfall, Silver Rose Designs
72. Catherine Pruitt, Boo Beads
73. Deana Hager, Just Deez' Art & Life
74. Lupe Meter, Gem's PC Corner
75. Valerie Norton, Hot Fused Glass
76. Janet Bocciardi, Honey From the Bee
77. Kitty Durmaj, Perles and Life
78. Rose Noble, Lady Noble Design
79. Sally Russick, WireWorked
80. Margot Potter, The Impatient Crafter

81. KJ, KJ's Beadacious Beads
82. Lana Kinney, Something Unique by Lana
83. Melissa Meman, Melissa Meman ... Art, Life, Love
84. Karen Bien, Everyday Gypsy
85. Rebecca Anderson, Songbeads
86. Cyn Gagen, Creative Edventures
87. Niky Sayer, Silver Nik Nats
88. Deb Beechy, Beetique
89. Marian Hertzog, M's Place
90. Kerry Bogert, Kab's Creative Concepts

91. Judy Riley, Three Red Beads
92. Charlene Gray, Gray Girl Studio
93. Erin Fickert-Rowland, Elysian Fields
94. Sharon Palac, Sharon's Jewelry Garden
95. Maryse Thillens, Glass Bead Art
96. Christine Altmiller, One Kiss Creations
97. Eileen Bergen, The Artful Crafter
98. Bobbie Rafferty, Beadsong Jewelry
99. Rebekah Payne, Tree Wings Studio
100. Mari Aparicio, Mis Amores

101. Tracy Statler, Make Bracelets
102. Marcy Lamberson, Studio Marcy
103. Kim Stevens, Picking Poppies
104. Karyn White, Releases by Rufydoof
105. Elisabeth Auld, Beads for Busy Gals
106. Lisa Hamilton, Simply Irresistible Jewelry
107. Serena Trent, All Things Made Jewelry
108. Sharon Driscoll, Right Turn Artwerks
109. Debbie La Rue, For the Love of Beading
110. Maggie Towne, Maggie's Bead Towne

111. Cassandra Watsham, Designs by Cassandra
112. Mary Ellen Parker, BeeTree by m.e.

Which do you prefer: Design or Create?

2011-04-14T11:33:00.000-04:00

Lori Anderson posted about 7000 Bracelets of Hope- a bracelet blog hop. I jumped on board. The blog hop requests a blue bracelet. I just happened to have a bracelet ready made for the blog hop; I had an extra from the custom order I recently posted about.

Clear and Indigo Czech Crystal and Silver Plate Bracelet

Lori then sent me a follow-up e-mail which suggested that the bracelet be of variable size, e.g. have an extender chain. The bracelet I had would not work. This really isn’t a problem. I have an extra large stash of blue beads. Even before the change of plan, I had been busy creating a new square beaded-bead, and fortunately I had used shades of blue.

My Google calendar informed me this morning that I need to post my finished bracelet on Saturday. Since good planning is important, I need to finish the bracelet today so I can take a picture tomorrow morning and write the blog post tomorrow afternoon, and therefore, make the Saturday morning deadline. Yes, I really do plan like that- not particularly a trait associated with creativity is it?

Which brings me around to this philosophical question: Do you prefer to design or to create?

I can’t really answer that question. I love to make things. I love to have my hands busy. I love having a finished product that I can touch and show off.

On the other hand, I love the design process. I love looking at a pile of beads and envisioning the end product. I always think I am going to make another similar item, and sometimes I do, but the second piece is not nearly as exciting as the first.

To answer my question, I like them both. What about you?

Custom Order

2011-04-09T10:08:00.000-04:00

Do you take custom orders?

The benefit of custom orders is that the items are sold when you make them. The drawback is that the creative impulse is limited. That is, your choice of beads, style, or color has been defined before work starts.

I had a custom order as a result of a home show I did in February. The customer liked work that I was showing but wanted it in a different color. When the customer was presented with two bracelets she not only wanted those two bracelets but wanted three more. In addition, a friend of the customer viewing the bracelets also ordered a bracelet. That is how I came to make three very similar white bracelets and two very similar black bracelets.

Below is a collage of the bracelets. If you click on the picture you can view a larger version. You can see individual photos at my Flickr stream.

Custom Order Silver Plate Bracelets

If at first you don’t succeed…

2011-04-03T12:05:00.000-04:00

keep trying.

I read this great article on studio quality photography using aluminum foil. I immediately embraced the methodology described and placed my jewelry on aluminum foil. Every time I laid a piece of jewelry on the foil it created a new scratch and wrinkle. In a previous post I mentioned that a photograph shows every blemish including every scratch and wrinkle.

I do not care for waste; replacing the aluminum foil for each photograph was not a viable long term solution. My work-around was to purchase a silver colored tray. This was not quite a success because it was too reflective.

To resolve this problem I purchased a sheer piece of fabric to place on the silver tray and, thus, diffuse the reflection. This worked well except I still had the wrinkle problem and to make matters worse the fabric I purchased is prone to scorching when ironed.

This week I purchased a dull silver colored pizza pan at Wal-Mart for a mere $3.00. I think this will work. No wrinkles in the aluminum foil or fabric. No ironing and no scorch marks. Just the right amount of reflection, that is, the light bounces and there is a bit of reflective shine, but you cannot see the camera, my hand, or the ceiling. I will let you know if scratches become an issue.

I also purchased a tripod.

To test my new photography equipment I photographed a bracelet I made this week named Colonel Mustard. The bracelet is made of mustard colored cinnabar, woven Delica beads embellished with Czech beads and brass spacers, joined by brass wrapped loops, embellished with a mustard colored glass bell, and an antiqued brass lobster claw.


Colonel Mustard on the pizza pan


Colonel Mustard with the candle stick

If you would like a comparison of my trials visit my flickr stream to see the of Baroque and Brass. When I was working on Baroque and Brass I photographed the center piece on aluminum foil, when it was completed I photographed it on the shiny tray with a fabric cover, and the final photograph is on the pizza pan.

Lessons in Networking

2011-04-02T16:07:00.000-04:00

The woman standing in line in front of me at Panera’s had on beautiful earrings. They were silver horses with an ancient or native feel; they had thin galloping legs and upright black tassels for their tails. I tapped her on the shoulder and complimented her.

She told me that she bought them at a gallery. I asked her where; she named a college town about an hour north of where I live but not the name of the gallery.

She told me that she is an artist and had not intended to buy the earrings but went ahead and splurged. I told her I was a jewelry artist. She asked if I worked in silver. I replied no and told her I was a bead weaver.

I asked if she had ever seen the work of Luann Udell, because her work is the perfect complement to the earrings she was wearing. Luann creates pieces that look like ancient carved bone. Because she hadn’t heard of Luann, I pulled out my Blackberry and failed in my attempt to find her on the internet because I had misspelled her name. I gave up and pulled up a photo of my necklace, India Spice, which she complimented.

India Spice

Somewhere in the conversation she mentioned that she did a broadcast on art.

Her dinner arrived and I had to place my order. I did, however, manage to give her my card and told her to send me an e-mail and I would give her the information on Luann.

Here is what I learned. Being friendly is its own reward, but sometimes you might gain more than just a passing conversation. Networking opportunities are everywhere. I did well to show her my work and gave her a short summary of what I do best. I gave her my card. I should have gotten her name. I should have asked the name of the gallery, especially since they show jewelry. I should have asked about her art. I should have asked about her broadcast. Maybe I would have been able to do all those “should haves” if the line had been longer. Next time I hope to have a few less should haves and I hope you do too.

One more lesson. She told me she had sold a few pairs of those earrings on trips out of state. Women would ask where she obtained them and she would put them in contact with the gallery. My first inclination was to tell her about an artist other than myself because the other artist seemed a good fit for what she was wearing. Anyone can represent you when your work speaks for you.

Completed Rainy Day Projects

2011-03-30T11:52:00.000-04:00

My rainy day projects are complete. Lucky for me it is still raining so I have a good excuse to sit down and bead some more.

I still need to work on my photos. This time I learned:

Every speck of dust shows
Every wrinkle shows
Beads must be properly positioned
Square pictures are hard when your pieces are long

I also think I need to buy a tripod so I don’t photograph my own shadow or blur my pictures because my hand is moving.

Here is the completed Baroque and Brass bracelet:

Baroque and Brass completed bracelet

Here is a piece named Basic Onyx. The large 30 mm x 20mm faceted onyx bead is bezeled in silver, matte black and red AB delicas- it is reversible.

Basic Onyx, Matte Black Side


Basic Onyx, closeup of red side

Close up of bead cap on Basic Onyx necklace

Rainy Days…

2011-03-26T11:55:00.001-04:00

Are really great days to find an old Doris Day* movie, pull out the beads, and be creative.

Since February I have been working on Prom Project pieces and had to put aside two other works in progress.

Here is my current work space:

I bought the inset brass sliders about a year ago with no plan- I just thought they were lovely. My local bead store has had strands of these really great antique cut brass beads- I bought those a few months ago with no plan. The round stones are I don’t know how many years old. Serendipity happens when you have a large bead stash and buy things because they are pretty in and of themselves. A large bead stash doesn’t have all the treasure you need; I had to make a bead store run when I discovered I didn’t have a clasp.

Here is a close up of the piece itself:

* I really like old Doris Day movies. When I bead I want something that doesn’t require my eyes, or much attention to follow the dialogue and old Doris Day movies fit the bill.

A Chance of Bling

2011-03-21T12:55:00.001-04:00


Chartruese Glass Pearl and Crystal Necklace for Donation to the Prom Project by KJ's Beadacious Beads

Matching Earrings by KJ's Beadacious Beads

The Prom Project is a local event in which girls are given the opportunity to pick out dresses and accessories, such as shoes, bags, and jewelry. I told Beadaholics, the local meet up group of beaders, that I would be collecting donations of jewelry for the Prom Project and encouraged them to give. The generosity of the community has been overwhelming. Local beaders made 73 pieces of jewelry valued at $1,935.00 and collected another 56 pieces of jewelry valued at $517.00 for a total value of $2,452.00.


Earrings with Hand Hammered Silver Plate Ear Wires to match Ivory and Gold Luster Pearl Necklace by KJ's Beadacious Beads

Ivory and Gold Luster Pearl and Crystal Woven Necklace for Prom Project by KJ's Beadacious Beads

In addition to benefiting the girls, this has been a real benefit for the local beading community. Local stores have donated time, space, and raw materials, a gift that is much appreciated and will be remembered. A local jeweler donated 41 pairs of earrings and 8 rings- an unexpected boost. Friends, family, co-workers, and acquaintances have offered jewelry they no longer wear, gently worn dresses that they no longer have occasion to wear, and money in support of the Prom Project.


Pink Glass Pearl and Crystal Necklace joined with simple loops for Prom Project by KJ's Beadacious Beads

Pink Glass Pearl and Crystal with Hand Hammered Ear Wires to match donation for the Prom Project by KJ's Beadacious Beads

There is no doubt the girls attending the Prom Project will benefit, but so does the beading community. I had a few friends over for a trunk show- the theme was Bling in Progress. During the trunk show we made jewelry with plenty of bling for the prom project and displayed our usual line for visitors.

Blue Glass Pearl and Crystal Necklace with bead woven focal for
donation to the Prom Project by KJ's Beadacious Beads

Hand Hammered Hoops with Blue Glass Pearls and Crystals
to match the Prom Project Necklace donation by KJ's Beadacious Beads

This was also a great opportunity for local beaders to network. The project gave us a lead-in to talk about our artistry and then show it off. We also met local retailers who we might some day approach for sales of our jewelry. The organizers of the Prom Project are well placed members of the community and this was an opportunity to demonstrate our talent. Finally, this was an occasion for local beaders to do something that might be a bit different than their usual line or work with different materials.


Purple Glass Pearl and Purple Crystal woven focals necklace for donation to the Prom Project by KJ's Beadacious Beads

Hand Hammered hoops with Purple Glass Pearls and Crystals to match necklace
donation for the Prom Project by KJ's Beadacious Beads

The Prom Project was a Win-Win for everyone.

Gray Glass Pearl and Crystal focal with pearl and crystal strands for
donation to the Prom Project by KJ's Beadacious Beads

I have pictured in this post most of the donations I made for the Prom Project. Most because it seems I accidentally deleted some photos of matching earrings for a few pieces. Please go to We Make Pretty Things for pictures of some of the pieces made by my friends.

Soft Red Glass Pearl and Crystal woven necklace for donation to the Prom Project by KJ's Beadacious Beads

Lori Anderson Giveaway from Auntie's Beads

2011-03-16T14:45:00.000-04:00

Since you can never have to many seed beads, follow this link: Seed Bead Giveaway of Auntie's Beads for a chance to win seed beads. All you have to do is leave a comment.

For an additional chance, blog about it.

Shopping Again

2011-03-13T13:22:00.002-04:00

I went to the Intergalactic Bead Show on March 12th. It was packed with shoppers.

As soon as I walked through the door I found Silver in Style, the vendor I had come to buy from. I attended this show for the specific purpose of buying sterling clasps and sterling charms if I could find them. I have previously bought from Silver in Style and although I have a few pieces left from my previous purchase, most of my supply was exhausted.

My pocketbook would have been better off if I would have called it a day right then.

Indian Creek beads has the best collection of turquoise, which I always crave but never buy. Indian Creek also has a table of $2.00 18 inch strands of stone and beads glass as well as strands of Czech crystals, including 2 and 3 mm bicones which are perfect for seed beading. Most of the strands of crystal beads are $2.00 but I sprung for a couple of $3.00 strands. It only makes sense to stock up on the basics at that price.

On the Rocks is a new vendor to me. She had seed beads, kits, tools, and supplies. She also had size 13 Charlottes. These were rare enough to entice me. I bought hanks in galvanized metals and two colored hanks. The galvanized hanks will probably be used regularly, but I love the colored hanks. The light colored hank is a bone color and the red is a deep dark maroon.

Last year I bought from The Rabbit Hutch for the first time. I have a few bracelets left in stock, but I have sold a few too. My other buys make sense to my beading habits, this purchase was a indulgence. Photos never do justice, but the colors are fabulous. My buyers all want black and white; I think they are really saying they want neutrals. I love the bone and brown pillow beads with silver speckles. How could these fail to appeal to the neutral shopper? The round graduated beads are not neutral, they are spring colors: purple, green, and white. Blue beads always grab my attention. I had a customer tell me she had no blue in her wardrobe- I pointed out she was wearing blue jeans and sold her the bracelet she had in hand. The larger blue pillow beads are a beautiful sky blue with gold highlights in the transparent end. These have such depth. The other set of blue pillow beads are a frosted blue with gold and chocolate highlights.

I buy spooled copper wire from Cherry Tree Beads- another practical purchase. That didn’t stop me from eyeing the stones. I walked away after my wire purchase. I couldn’t, however, walk out the door without purchasing a strand of jasper. These are large beads, measuring 30 mm by 40 mm.

I can’t wait to start using these beads.

Window Shopping Shows

2011-03-06T11:09:00.002-05:00

One of my goals is to show my jewelry at juried shows.

I can find these shows thanks to Lori Anderson who recommended Sunshine Artists magazine. This magazine includes lists of upcoming shows and reviews of recent shows. Reviews include attendance figures, fees to exhibitors, reviews of promoters’ services and advertising, and anecdotal evidence of how much money the exhibitors made.

As a result of this subscription I found the Craftsman Classic shows which consistently rank in the top 100 shows in the country. Yesterday I attended the Craftsman Classic in Columbia SC.

My first impression was good: plenty of cars in the parking lot, ample staff to get me through the front door, and patrons not only carrying bags but pushing wheeled carts in anticipation of buying.

By my count there were 253 exhibitors of which 41 were jewelry artists. The majority of those jewelry artists worked with metal- silversmiths and goldsmiths, wire wrappers, and two who specialized in coin jewelry. There were a few artists with strands of beads, one specialized in pearls, another was a lampwork artist who had completed pieces. Many of the jewelry artists had pendants: dichroic glass, silver bells (these were really nice thimble sized bells), and themed pendants. There were two artists who took a naturalist approach- one had fun and feminine dried lacquered flowers with gold or silver highlights and another had jewelry based on butterflies. There was a lot of variety in the jewelry artists and the promoters should be credited for this achievement.

I spoke with most of the jewelry artists. They all had nothing but praise for the promoters. One artist has done this show for 15 years and has a lot of repeat customers. When I ventured to ask artists told me they did well financially at the Craftsman Classic. I was unable to speak with some of the artists because their booths were filled with customers.

I have no doubt that my work is up to the standards I saw at this show. Since my passion is seed beads I also have no doubt that I could stand out from the other artists.

What I lack to exhibit in juried shows is a booth. I need curtains to frame my booth, lights, tables with adjustable heights, and countless other small items. I need to think more about my overall presentation.

Most of the jewelry artists at the show had their tables pushed to the aisle and stood enclosed behind them. Many of these same artists had their jewelry in glass cases. Plenty of my pieces would be at home in a glass case. Yet, I saw those glass cases as a barrier to interacting with the customer.

My current booth set up is eclectic: busts of various colors and materials, an earring rack made of wrought iron framed by patinaed wood, bracelets tacked in a black frame propped on an easel, variations in height achieved by props that differ from each other in material and color. I like the direction my booth is going, yet it belies some of the high end pieces I display. I have heard the advice many times: do not undercut your finest pieces by also selling inexpensive pieces. I think the same advice is applicable to presentation. If your presentation is not high end your jewelry will be perceived as having lesser value.

I am still processing all that I saw yesterday. I have to decide what I want to achieve, and what is the next step on this journey. Mostly, I have to think about my display. (Oh, and how to take better photos, how to process them, accepting credit cards, etc… the business of selling art is very different from creating art.)

Not My First Dance

2011-03-01T20:13:00.000-05:00

When I started this blog I subtitled it Adventures in Marketing because I thought I would share as I learn.

What I want to share today is what I have done up until now. I have been making and selling beaded jewelry here and there for decades.

My first sales were to family and friends. My mother, grandmother, and aunts have always oohed and aahed over my creations and they will always be my first and best supporters. Friends have watched me create and than purchased pieces they were particularly taken by over the years. Those “sales” are sometimes gifts and at a reduced wholesale price.

My next venue was as a street vendor- no license, no plan, just a cloth set out on the ground, and no profit. Although it sounds bleak it affirmed my skills as an artist; total strangers stopped and not only looked at my creations but bought my jewelry.

I branched out in the early 1990’s to a local gallery. (The picture accompanying this post is from that show and looking every bit its age.) Although being able to place my work in a gallery was an affirmation of my artistry it was not a monetary success. At the time I blamed the lack of sales on a lack of understanding in the community. Since I work mainly with seed beads the potential customers did not see past the materials, i.e. glass beads and thread, to the value of the art itself. Craft fairs were not overrun by jewelry artists. Craft shops were of two varieties: fabric shops and hobby shops. Etsy did not exist. I was ahead of my time and not a successful leader. My lack of professionalism, beyond my art, also contributed to my lack of sales. Nonetheless, I consider my gallery experience an accomplishment.

A decade after my failed gallery experience I began selling to co-workers. This was almost all word of mouth. Even though these were my best sales this was far from professional. Nothing was priced or labeled. Nothing was displayed. It was, however, just the push I needed to begin looking at other venues.

The next obvious step was craft fairs. It is here that I finally began to develop my presentation- display and tags. Most craft fairs, however, are not a good venue for jewelry. The most important lesson I learned is that there are a lot of talented jewelry artists and my work had better stand out.

Recently I have been learning what I can about marketing. I have a group of friends who I meet with to discuss marketing. I read blogs that offer marketing tips:
• Cat at Olive bites;
• Lori Anderson at Pretty Things;
• Lorelei Eurto at Lorelei’s Blog;
• Luann Udell at Luann Udell;
• Alyson Stanfield at Art Biz Blog;
• Harriete Estel Berman at Ask Harriet;

And too many others to name. I follow these blogs not just for what they say explicitly about marketing but also for what I can learn from example.

This is not my first dance and not my last and hopefully as I go along I will stumble less.

Don’t Let the Perfect Be the Enemy of the Good

2011-02-23T12:48:00.000-05:00

I have been making and selling jewelry for many years but I have never focused much effort on the sales part. Which is why I am currently pondering the question: Once you have a decent product do you rush into the market and then polish your presence or do you aim for the very best presentation before going public?

Honestly I know the answer lies somewhere in between the two extremes. I jumped into this blog with minimal (for me) research. I checked reviews for blogger, wordpress, typepad, and a few others. I am more than computer literate, know a bit of html, and have created a website using Dreamweaver, but I made the decision on which blog software to use mostly based on ease of use. I picked a name, created an account, and chose a template and I was up and running. Yesterday, when posting my first pictures, I discovered how much I don’t know. Last night I figured out how to reset column widths on the template I chose. Then I began thinking about how I would customize the blog further… after I learn how to take better pictures, use GIMP, etc… There is a lot to learn.

I stumbled into selling jewelry. Friends wanted to buy what I was making. I have family members who sell fine silver jewelry who show my work. Co-workers were eager to purchase my products. My presentation has improved over the years but I know there is still room for more improvement. Should I have waited to sell until I had a polished presentation?

I haven’t opened an Etsy shop yet. I need to take more photos. I need to write some descriptions. I need to pick a banner. I need to figure out PayPal and how I can use it to take payments. Those are the biggies. When I make sales I need to figure out shipping- but wait, I need to figure out shipping charges prior to posting my jewelry so I can post the appropriate charge. I am sure you have had this debate yourself.

I have a to-do list to professionalize my sales. I know the choice is not to jump in with whatever is quick and easy, likewise, I know that to wait until it is perfect is to put it off forever. The real question is how do you know when you have reached that middle point and it is time for action? How did you answer this question for yourself?

My First Pictures

2011-02-22T15:22:00.001-05:00

Last night Lori Anderson asked why do you follow a blog? For the 100+ jewelry blogs I read, the first thing that came to mind was pictures. Yet, you will notice that up until today I have posted no photos.

I confessed my photos are more miss than hit and that I had ordered a light cube to address part of the problem. The light cube arrived yesterday. Today I am posting my first photos.

I have learned:

It takes a long time to take photos (especially when the battery in the camera dies.)
Nowhere is it posted what is the best size for photos to upload.
By reading The Pioneer Woman I learned that it is best to find a place to store your photos and then link to them in your blog.

Now for the reveal:

By way of introduction the photos are of India Spice. I spent 60 hours creating this piece as part of an inspiration challenge. The hot and spicy colors are outside of my usual comfort zone.

The picture on the left was taken in the light cube. I like it. There are no distractions from the jewelry itself. The lighting is even, no deep shadows, no bright spots.

The picture in the center is probably my favorite; it was taken outside in bright north eastern light. I like this photo is because the colors were well captured- you can see the hot reds, oranges, and pinks as well as the cooling sage green.

The picture on the right is from this morning; it was taken indoors with indirect eastern light. I like this picture too. The colors are not quite as bright as the light cube photo. I also like the props in this photo and the center photo.

The light cube is a wonderful tool. I don’t have to wait for the right light. I don’t have to rush through breakfast. I will be able to obtain consistent photos that do not distract from the jewelry itself. I will continue to play with natural light. I will take photos inside and out, in direct and indirect light. I do know that I do not like deep shadows, so I will likely shy away from direct bright light.

What is your opinion on the three photos?

Improving my Photographs

2011-02-18T08:49:00.000-05:00

My photographs are much more miss than hit which has led me to the conclusion that I need to learn more about photography.

On a bright sunny day I take a jewelry bust and a few props and head out the door. On cold or overcast days, when I do not have time to wait for better conditions, I set up inside by draping a cloth behind my jewelry, focusing a few lights on it, and snapping away. My pictures are washed out, have too many shadows, lack detail, and certainly do not do justice to my efforts.

I am always hopeful that a bit of editing magic will make up for my lack of proper tools and my unpracticed photography skills. You won’t be surprised to learn that hopes are often dashed.

I need better photos in order to professionalize the sale of my jewelry. The first step in better photos is to obtain a light box.

I am creative, capable, and like to spend my money wisely. My first choice was to build a light box. The first instructions I found were how to make a light box out of a cardboard box. The cost was perfect. The product was workable. I nixed this solution because of storage space. I did not want to have to find a place to store a cardboard box big enough to work as a light box.

I decided I needed something that I could take apart and put back together and that I could store in a small space. I thought PVC piping likely as I had seen a similar light box in the past. I discovered Bill Huber’s light box instructions. Again, the cost was great, likely to be under $10.00, and it was a workable product. The construction did not seem to be above my skills or to call for tools that were not readily at hand. The instructions did call for the pieces to be glued together, but I thought I could skip that step in order to make the light box easy to store. Nonetheless, the deconstructed light box was still going to be awkward and a bit bulky. I also had an inkling that I would not want to be taking my light box apart and putting it back together every time I wanted to take a picture.

A commercial solution seemed at least worth researching. That research was successful. I purchased a pop-up cube that collapses into a flat disk for easy storage. The price was still reasonable, $20.00 for a 20 inch by 20 inch cube.

The cube has not been delivered yet, so I cannot attest to the ease of collapsing it nor can I attest to the quality of the product. When it arrives I will let you know about ease of use and post some comparison pictures.

Getting Started

2011-02-14T11:47:00.000-05:00

I have had an on-going love affair with beads for decades. In the 1980's I learned peyote stitch from a friend. Shortly thereafter, in the gift shop at Cahokia Mounds, I discovered "Indian Bead-Weaving Patterns" by Horace Goodhue; a book which remains a favorite. Back then, I mostly worked with seed beads, but I picked up a enough skills with wire to make simple loop earrings. Seed beads remain my favorite. I have sold my jewelry to family and friends since then. I have sold at craft fairs and fund raisers as well as though family members who sell fine silver jewelry. Now, it is time to become more professional in my sales.

I will be focusing on two new venues:

On-line
More and better venues

My plan for this blog is to write about beads and my jewelry because it is one of my passions. In addition, I want to write about the process of professionalizing my jewelry sales.